Statement by Mr. Levan Gogoberidze

Sixth Committee

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Mr. Chairman,

my country attaches overriding importance to the establishment of a permanent International Criminal Court.

This issue was addressed by the Head of State of Georgia Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze in his speech before the 47th Session of the General Assembly, and reiterated at the last Session by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

We are fully aware that the establishment of an International Criminal Court will significantly contribute to the strengthening of the Rule of Law, which is the basis for the development of fledgling democracies throughout the world, and a necessary prerequisite for Georgia's successful transition from communism to democracy and to full participation in the World Community.

Unfortunately, for all of us, war is an universal social process which has existed ever since the inception of the Mankind, but it is even more unfortunate that the gains of civilization could not put a stop to the atrocities of war, on the contrary, the war crimes have become even more elaborated and sophisticated. Sufferings of civilian population, massacre of children, rape of women, torture of prisoners and so on, still remain invariable companions of the modern warfare.

These crimes get even more severe and brutal when it comes to non international armed conflicts. We have witnessed all this in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, in my own country and many other places of the world.

The International Community has already reacted to the gross violations in the former Yogoslavia by establishing an ad hoc war crimes tribunal and is set out to do the same to deal with the atrocities perpetrated in Rwanda.

We welcome these initiatives and at the same time look forward to seeing the permanent jurisdictional body capable to ensure that violations of international humanitarian law do not go unponished.

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... the establishment of an International Criminal Court is a project of great importance to the world community. My Delegation pays tribute to the International Law Commission for providing us with the detailed blueprint for action. Now it is for States to step in and accelerate the process.

In this regard we welcome the proposal of the distinguished representative of Italy to start the procedure for establishing the International Criminal Court at the 49th Session of the General Assembly by convening a diplomatic conference in 1995 and conclude a convention to that effect.

My Government is willing to work and cooperate closely with other governments on this important issue.